The Courier. Montgomery Council kofcknights.org/councilsite/?cno=2323 July-August

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1 Council Officers KofC 2323 Elects Officers For Year Grand Knight: Mike Bean Deputy Grand Knight: John DeMaré Chancellor: Edward L. Day, SK Warden: George G. Silvas II, SK Recorder: Ross Woodward III Treasurer: Bernie McGuire Advocate: Joseph M. Kempf Inside Guard: Joel Thomas Outside Guard: Nathan Gagnon Trustee (3 year): Michael Joseph III Trustee (2 year): Larry Royster Trustee (1 year): David Ball Conv. Delegates: Mike Bean, Mike Joseph Alternates: Larry Royster, David Ball To contact officers, visit the Web site (address above), click on MEMBERS ONLY, plug in your member number and birthdate, then access the member directory. The Courier Montgomery Council 2323 kofcknights.org/councilsite/?cno=2323 July-August New Grand Knight s Message Mike Bean Steps Up As 2 nd Generation GK I m excited to take over as Grand Knight! I d like to thank Mike Joseph, PGK, for his leadership and dedication over the past year. I look forward to continuing to draw from his knowledge as he serves as Trustee and Past Grand Knight. My goals are simple. I want to keep building on what we ve built as Knights over the past three years. It was then I started as Warden. I look forward to carrying on the long traditions of our Council In Charity, by bringing in new ideas to raise money for the Campaign for People with Intellectual Disabilities, in which we use Tootsie Rolls to solicit donations. I want to continue to support Food for Families (see related story, Page 6), volunteering at Special Olympics events (see story, Page 7), and supporting mothers who choose life. Last year, we supported the Catholic Education Programs in all three parishes by donating more than $12,000 to St. Francis, St. Mary s and St. Martin s schools. We raised money for Catholic Charities, Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Ann s Center, Stepping Stone Shelter, the Rockville and Gaithersburg holiday fund, and Shady Grove Pregnancy Center. We supported four seminarians with our Wagon of Cheer raffle (see story, Page 4). So please: make sure you buy your tickets again this Christmas. In Unity: We can t accomplish our long list of activities alone, but together we can. Please, support one another when someone asks for help, and for event leaders, that includes letting our newsletter editor and social media coordinator know what you re doing, so we can get more volunteers, attendees and promote our achievements to entice others to join the Knights. We may not always agree on ways to accomplish a task but that doesn t

2 mean we should walk away. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and as Knights we should support each other to better our parishes, our community and our Order. Fraternity: Fr. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus to provide assistance to widows and children left behind when the family breadwinner died. We continue this great tradition today by donating time to help the sick and disabled. One small way we do this is by attending viewings and funerals of our fallen brothers, and to say a Rosary together while we are with their families. In August, as we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, this joint fraternal act takes on even more meaning. It helps mourning families and brings us as Knights closer. Last year, according to Supreme Council, brother Knights spent 10 million hours assisting sick and/or disabled members and their families. Lastly, Patriotism: Members of the Knights of Columbus are patriotic citizens. We re proud of our devotion to God and Country. We re fortunate to have such an active 4th Degree Team (Sullivan Brothers Assembly) and Honor Guard. I ve never seen or heard of a single time when they didn t step up to honor our fallen or didn t support our Church and Country. May we support each other in Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. Thanks for allowing me to lead you in this heroic effort, as brothers. I pledge to continue to serve. ~ Vivat Jesus! Grand Knight Mike Bean Atop The Ladder DeMaré, Day, Silvas Pledge Devoted Leadership To Council 2323 John DeMaré Ed Day George Silvas On June 2, the Council elected a slate of officers, led by Mike Bean as Grand Knight (see message previous page), and 11 other officers, including those presumed to follow him: Deputy Grand Knight John DeMaré, Chancellor Ed Day, SK, and Warden George Silvas, SK. DGK DeMaré was profiled in the March-April Courier, but Chancellor Day and Warden Silvas share their thoughts here for the future. Grand Knight To Trustee, Overnight I ve had highs and lows, as every Grand Knight has during his tenure. Some of the lows were of my own doing, like try- Mike Joseph, PGK ing to pull off an Art Auction when it wasn t an established program. Thanks to the bidders who got us through that night! You know who you are and you are appreciated! Highs: pulling off an installation, an installation reception, a Past Grand Knight s Dinner, and a Christmas Party. I was honored to be the entertainment I ll be back! Yes, it s been a good year. I think the coming year will be even better with a Grand Knight who grew up in the Council, excels in the kitchen, on the softball field, and much more. So here s to being a PGK and a Trustee. It s an honor to be nominated and given respect by my peers, the Knights, says Chancellor Day. I hope to be successful, and have some ideas, maybe along the lines of getting some speakers to talk about vocations, how that relates to lay people as well as religious. Encouraging us. We all have vocations, whether we re religious or just regular people, we serve our Church and

3 On a final note, I share my deep thanks to the person who found my Deputy Grand Knight badge (converted to my first GK badge with black tape) at the Shady Grove Metro Station. This person mailed it back to the Council Hall in a Disabled Veterans envelope! Hopefully, you ll know how much that act of kindness meant. God Bless you. ~ Trustee Mike Joseph, PGK God. Part of the Chancellor s duties includes vocations, to help seminarians, religious and priests. But what will take most of his time this year is the Campaign for People with Intellectual Disabilities, which most Knights call the Tootsie Roll Drive. The candy is used to solicit the donations for the campaign. Chancellor Day says he wants to build on the successes of past the Council just won an award for raising the most funds in the state (see story, Page 7) but to move ahead with new ideas to improve on past efforts. We re thinking of maybe having a dance as a fundraiser for the campaign in conjunction with the usual outreach at parishes and grocery stores, the Chancellor says. Tootsie Rolls might be offered at the dance or the funds raised simply would be used toward the campaign. Chancellor Day starts leading this important Council effort July 4 weekend, as he secures sites where passerby will be asked to donate, as Knights share Tootsie Rolls. Chancellor Day has been a Knight since Dec. 7, 2013 and a Sir Knight at the Sullivan Brothers Assembly since He s an Outside Guard for the Assembly. Married almost 45 years, he has two children, five grandchildren and is a retired Montgomery County Police homicide detective. He now works in Montgomery County s state s attorney s office and on contract for the U.S. State Department. He has travelled to 20 countries (spending a year in Iraq at one point), to train police officers. It s my feeble attempt to stay relevant, he says, in humor. He s a recent convert to Catholicism; his wife s family has been St. Mary s parishioners for two or three generations. George Silvas, SK, a Knight since April 5, 2005, holds his Fourth Degree from the Sullivan Brothers Assembly. I m excited, being Warden, being with the Knights more than 10 years, I wanted to give deep thought on an officer s position, he says. I m in the middle of ending my career and starting retirement. I understand what officer positions are, and can indulge more time into it, without having my job overtake events. He says a reason he has not participated as an officer until now was work obligations and not having time. He says he has long been a Knights insurance holder and appreciates that benefit. He has been a regular volunteer at the Senior s Dance, has volunteered at Special Olympics events, and participated in fish fries, which he ll be responsible to organize as Warden. Warden Silvas is already coordinating dates, organizing the food, and studying up on working with the chefs, how to roll out the announcement, and getting an estimate of attendees. I hope we can all bring our neighbors to the fish fry it doesn t matter if you re in a Catholic parish or not, just come out, have fun, eat. Warden Silvas has been an usher at St. Martin s parish since I was honored I was asked to be Warden and I take the duty seriously, he says. I ll do a good job, and I ll serve the Warden s position in honor.

4 Council 2323 Supports Four Seminarians Supreme s Refund Support Vocations Program Inspires $2,000 Donation Montgomery Council 2323 donated $500 each to four seminarians, two at John Paul II Seminary in Washington, D.C. and two at Mount St. Mary s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. This includes Daniel Koscinski and Brendan Glasgow at JP II and William Wadsworth and Martino Choi at The Mount, some of whom the Council has been supporting for years. Thank you so much for your generous gift and for your constant support of me and all the seminarians, wrote Seminarian Martino Choi to the Council. It is always a great source of encouragement to know the Knights care and to witness the Knights work for the Church, particularly seminarians. The donations were made as part of the Knights of Columbus Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP). Councils, assemblies and Squires circles adopt one or more seminarians or postulants and provide financial assistance and moral support. RSVP money is used by those in religious formation for tuition and books, car expenses, vacation travel, emergencies, and other living expenses. Knights provide more than financial support, however. Members write to students, sponsor dinners for them, invite them to join the Order and, most importantly, pray for vocations. Last year, financial help from 3,224 councils, assemblies and circles to future priests, sisters and brothers exceeded $3.7 million. Since 1981, the RSVP program provided more than $60 million, helping over 91,600 men and women follow their vocations. Qualifying councils and assemblies receive a $100 refund for every $500 donated, up to $2,000 donated to one person. Chaplain s Message Experts: Bl. Serra s Canonization Objections Incorrect By Fr. John Dillon On July 1, we celebrated the memorial of Blessed Junipero Serra. When our Holy Father, Pope Francis, comes to Washington, D.C., he plans to canonize Fray Junipero Serra on Sept. 23 at the Fray Junipero Serra National Basilica. The canonization has been in the news. A year before he beatified Fray Junipero Serra, St. John Paul II made a pilgrimage to the grave of the Franciscan priest at Mission San Carlos Borromeo in Carmel, California. At that time, St. John Paul II made this observation: At crucial times in human affairs, God raises us men and women whom he thrusts into roles of decisive importance for the future development of both society and the Church. We rejoice all the more when their achievement is coupled with a holiness of life that can truly be called heroic. So it is with Junipero Serra, who in the providence of God was destined to be the Apostle of California. The canonization of Fray Junipero Serra has led to some controversy over how Serra treated Native Americans. Ruben Mendoza, a professor of archeology at California State University, Monterey, Calif., described himself as being of Mexican-Indian descent. He notes that Junipero Serra was devoted to Native Americans and to sharing the Gospel with them. Professor Mendoza continues: The irony is that, over these many years, those same communities tend to criticize him for what he did: evangelize them and bring them a different way of looking at the world.

5 The professor has been involved in research and conservation projects at several California missions founded by Serra. He said that many of Serra s critics are confusing the impact of Spanish colonizing and missionary activity on the native communities with what happened after California became a U. S. territory in Professor Mendoza notes that a decimation of the Native American population occurred in the period after 1850, but Serra had no connection to that phenomenon. Those who criticize Serra, most tend to conflate the American period with that of the missionaries. About 30 years ago, the late Fr. Finbar Kinneally, OFM, who spent many years researching the life of Fray Junipero Serra and his fellow missionaries as part of his work at the Academy of American Franciscan History, made the same observation to me about the decimation of the Native American population occurring after California became a U. S. territory and certainly not during the lifetime of Junipero Serra. He told me this when he took me on a tour of old Mission Santa Barbara. A second major objection to Serra s canonization was the report that Native American adults at his mission were beaten. Professor Mendoza notes that there s no documentation that Serra himself abused any Native Americans. The system under which he operated did use corporal punishment, but that was used for transgressors from all walks of life, including soldiers. Professor Mendoza says that he supports the canonization and says that he believes it has much to offer the peoples of Latin America, especially those of us of Mexican-Indian heritage who currently live under a shadow of doubt and denigration. Pope Francis has indicated his interest in canonizing Fray Junipero Serra because Serra was a great evangelist and truly the Apostle of California. May we take as our own his motto: Always forward, never back. District Deputy s Message Congrats To The New Officers & A Reminder To All Happy New Year! The Fraternal New Year, that is. Congratulations and thanks to all the new Council Officers as they begin a new, challenging, and exciting Fraternal Year of good works. Thanks to all outgoing Council Officers for their hard work during the previous year. I have three New Year s Resolutions I d like you to consider: Please make an effort to attend your Council s Business Meetings to keep abreast of what s happening. Remember why you joined the Knights and what activities you indicated an interest in on your Form 100. Then, get involved in at least one Council event this year to help your KofC succeed. If you participated in one Council event last year, make it two events this year. Don t wait to be asked to volunteer. When you hear about an event and who s chairing it, call that Knight to offer assistance. Many hands make light work. You ll have fun and you ll be appreciated. Invite at least one Catholic gentleman you know to join the ranks of our Order. He just might say yes! ~ Thanks and Vivat Jesus! Steve Goldhammer, DD30

6 Rice Man Leo Snyder (left) and Parking & Delivery Enforcer Jack Jones pause during the Monday-morning action in front of St. Martin s Food Pantry. (Titles are fictional but reflect the devoted volunteers pantry chores.) Two other Council 2323 Knights Ross Woodward III and Joe McCallion also volunteer, as does Joe Habib, from Father Rosensteel Council in Silver Spring. Here Come The 70+ -Year-Old Youthful Volunteers Knights Help Keep 235 Families Fed Weekly Boy, if you want to understand the deeper meaning of what it means to volunteer, tag along with 80-year-old disabled U.S. veteran Leo Snyder to Costco Price Club at 9:15 a.m. on a Friday. He parks in the handicapped space and ambles in to buy 300 or 400 pounds of rice, depending on the season. The military veteran, who s been around the world and to every state in the Union, grabs a big cart and wheels it in, where the 50-pound bags of rice are stacked. Usually, an employee will see me struggling, come over, Leo says. It s a younger guy, and he ll put the rice on the cart. What are you doing with all that rice? he ll ask. I tell him, I m from the Knights of Columbus and I m taking it to the Food Pantry at St. Martin s Church where they put it in one-pound bags for people who can t afford to buy food. He loads me up and then outside, they have a guy who collects the carts, I look for him. He rushes over, he wheels it out and puts it into my pickup. At the Pantry, if it s a Monday when food is distributed, Leo will likely see Jack Jones, Council 2323 s Lecturer, whose booming voice directs Pantry clients to watch for the pickup as it heads into the unloading area. Jack, a U.S. Navy vet, has been known to cordially chase Pantry clients from the designated Church staff parking spaces. Joe McCallion, another Knight, will help unload the rice, or head to stores to pick up food or unload other foodstuffs delivered, along with Joe Habib, a Knight from Father Rosensteel Council. Ross Woodward III, the Council s recorder, will bag groceries, or cart boxes or move cardboard to the recycling area. Chuck Smith, Pantry Coordinator, says these men are among 60 volunteers in any given week who pick up items from 25 donating stores or restaurants, and who store and pack the groceries for as many as 235 families per week, depending on the time of year. Some four tons of food move in and out each week of the small building. Smith keeps as much as six tons of food in reserve, but the Pantry always is in need of donations. In a recent week, it provided groceries to 182 families. Leo s job is critical because every family receives rice. Leo has volunteered since the Pantry opened in 1992, when it was in the Church basement. His grandsons often helped him; now they are young men. About five years ago, Leo started collecting money at business and social meetings of the Council to pay for the rice. He provides receipts to Treasurer Bernie McGuire and is reimbursed up to $500 a year under the Supreme Council s Food for Families program. He buys 300 pounds a month, 400 around Christmas and Easter. So far, Food for Families has provided $1,760 for these expenses. This past year, Leo bought 3,900 pounds of rice 78 bags of rice moved by a tough, 80-year-old vet.

7 Ross Woodward, who volunteers up to 10 hours per week, despite being unemployed, says the charity does him good. One reason I m here, he says, is to reinforce humility, because no matter what you do in the world, someone is doing better than you and someone has it worse. Not everyone sees that. You can get by with little if you have to maybe that s my lesson in humility. The best thing is when someone looks you deep in the eye and they honestly tell you, thank you. It s genuine, true, gratitude. Council 2323: Top Performer In Maryland Tootsie Roll Campaign PGK John Durbin (left), chairman of the Maryland chapter of the Special Olympics; Deputy Grand Knight John DeMaré, chairman of the 2014 Campaign for People with Intellectual Disabilities; and Grand Knight Mike Bean celebrate the Council s latest honor at Father Rosensteel Council Hall. Montgomery Council 2323 was named the topperforming Council in the state of Maryland, in the 2014 Campaign for People with Intellectual Disabilities. The Knights of Columbus have used Tootsie Rolls to solicit donations during these annual campaigns for decades. On May 17, at the Father Rosensteel Council Hall in Silver Spring, Council 2323 was recognized at an awards dinner, with all Montgomery County councils attending. The ceremony was hosted by Terry Waters, District 1 Deputy. Father Rosensteel Council served a delicious buffet dinner, along with an open bar, dessert, and coffee. District Deputy Waters recognized Council 2323 as the top-performing council in the state. Congratulations to all of our brother Knights who helped make this possible! PGK John Durbin, chairman of the Maryland state chapter of the Special Olympics, recognized the Council s generous contribution to his organization. Attending were Chancellor (now Deputy Grand Knight) John DeMaré (chairman of the 2014 campaign) and Deputy Grand Knight (now Grand Knight) Mike Bean. Support Maryland s Special Olympians in Los Angeles World Games The Special Olympics Summer World Games take place in Los Angeles July 25 Aug. 2. The Maryland Special Olympics will be represented by six athletes: Swimmer Abby Reznik, Prince George s County; Cyclist Alicia Gogue, Anne Arundel County; Equestrian Ben Stevick, Howard County (Ben is a brother Knight and a member of 2203 Patuxent Council); Cyclist Eddie Murphy, Queen Anne County; Sailor Terrel Limerick, Montgomery County; and Kayaker Chris Dooley, Caroline County (Chris is a 4th Degree Knight and a member of Regina Coeli Council 2274). All athletes need financial support. Please consider contributing to an athlete by visiting click on World Games, select athlete. No amount is too small. ~ John Durbin, Special Olympics Chairman, Maryland KofC State Council

8 Special Education Center Serves Students with Intellectual Disabilities Rock Terrace Uses This Newsletter & Others To Teach Office Job Skills Gavin (left) puts If you re reading this on paper, adhesive tabs on a thank the students of Rock Terrace Courier to hold it School in Rockville, Md. for getting the together for mailing. Casey (middle), newsletter into your hands. stuffs envelopes on For at least 16 years, students at another job, while this special education center serving Nancy Lloyd, Ph.D., Work Orientation students with intellectual disabilities Center director, and have assembled, folded, collated and Ashley Doyle, labeled the Knights of Columbus special needs coordinator, Council 2323 newsletter, among many observe. Under other projects meant to help them learn supervision, Michael vocational skills, can-do work attitudes, (bottom) shreds paper. and how to communicate and solve problems. Rock Terrace is the only school of its kind in Montgomery County, where more than 160,000 students attend public school; Rock Terrace serves 85, and one of its most successful programs, the Work Orientation Center (WOC), is run by Nancy Lloyd, Ph.D. Principal Kathy Lertora says students often land paying jobs, based on skills learned in this program, before they graduate. WOC takes on contracted work from businesses, non-profits and the county educational system, and operates a bulk mailing service that offers folding, stuffing, sealing, collating, stapling and labeling, among other services. Students also shred sensitive documents, assemble materials, and do piece work for businesses. A recent Parks & Planning job included the assembly of foam dinosaurs into hats 2,500 of them. This is a great opportunity for project-based learning, says Principal Lertora. As more organizations move to online publication, this gives students an opportunity to follow a sequence of steps in an office setting. We most certainly are looking for other projects for our students.

9 The school s goal is to help students receive an education that promotes productive citizenship and vocational success. The program tries to help students develop skills, attitudes and behaviors they ll need to become as independent as possible. Rock Terrace students have significant cognitive disabilities and other sensory, emotional or behavioral issues. Many of the students have autism spectrum disorders and/or multiple disabilities. The program is divided into middle school, high school and upper school. Students may enter in middle school, and graduate at age 21, earning a completion certificate. Of seven students graduating this year, two left with paying jobs. While Rock Terrace offers culinary, food safety, and woodshop programs, WOC is a popular elective, says Dr. Lloyd. It s a step toward independence, and helps them gain experience and confidence in the workplace. For this newsletter, after it s printed, they spend one to two days folding the 400+ issues, then a day tabbing them, then a day labeling. They usually do a project each week, for a small business, or church, or synagogue, or a medical practice, usually mailings or postcard reminders. They also assemble the newsletter for Father Peter Paul Maher Council 6793 in Olney. Secure shredding has become more frequent, as well, although the school is down to one shredder; replacements cost more than $1,000 another Knights project? Several Knights of Columbus councils have, from the Campaign for People with Intellectual Disabilities, donated $1,000 in the past for beanbag chairs and fidgets, which help children with sensory issues focus. KofCs also have combined to donate a whiteboard to the school. The school has a great need for a new copier/printer, but it s unlikely the funds for a $50,000+ replacement will be provided soon. All money earned from this work go toward a fund that pays for projects or activities for the entire student body, such as pizza parties. Dr. Lloyd says that while there s a push in education for students like those at Rock Terrace to be included in mainstream schools, Rock Terrace students thrive because it s a comfortable place a small place they can call all their own. Parents are a huge part of what goes on here, she says. She adds that seeing graduates on their own is why we stay here so many years we see the finished product. That s very satisfying. To donate to Rock Terrace School and the WOC, or to contact Dr. Nancy Lloyd for contract bulk mailings or other projects for your business or nonprofit, contact the school at , 390 Martins Lane, Rockville, MD Shrimp Feast Draws 110 Knights Softball Team Assures Future Play Through Shrimp & Cold Beer More than 110 people lined up to peel and eat shrimp, to fund the Knights Softball Team. The June 20 dinner drew the largest crowd for a Shrimp Feast in years. We believe this was the 28 th Annual Shrimp Feast, which makes it the longest annual event of the Council, says Feast Coordinator and Softball Team Manager Mike Thomas. The 50/50 Raffle was won by Past Grand Knight Michael Joseph, who donated the money back to the Council. Thanks to players John Bean, Kevin Bean, Mike Bean, Jeff Brink, Ken Fearon, Mike Frazier, Pat Gilroy, Terry Kernan, Paul Lidberg, Matt Mongelli, Bob Mongelli, William Thomas and Chris Von Stein, not to mention

10 Manager Thomas. The team finished the season and came in 4th place out of 10 teams. Thanks too, to the volunteer crew at the Shrimp Feast almost all softball players. First Baseman Mike Frazier (left) and Shortstop Chris Von Stien enjoy a conversation with Deputy Grand Knight John DeMaré (right) and Knight Jim Gierula at the bar during the Shrimp Feast, which helped fund Montgomery Council 2323 s Softball Team. Your Shield of Strength Knights Insurance Helps You Weather Storms, Taps $96 Billion Bedrock As the economy shakes off a half-decade of turbulent times, the Knights of Columbus celebrates 14 consecutive years of insurance business growth. We ve weathered storms when others haven t or couldn t. We ve weathered the storm when others made costly mistakes, because we don t take unnecessary risk. Our strength is undeniable. More members see it and use our shield to protect their families. Are you? If you need life insurance chances are you do why would you look elsewhere? Let us be your shield. Did you know that the Knights of Columbus is one of the largest life insurers in North America? It has surpassed $96 billion of insurance in force, and is a member of the Fortune The Knights of Columbus consistently earns the highest possible ratings for its ethical business practices and sound investment strategies. A.M. Best, a global insurance rating/analysis leader, gave the Knights of Columbus its highest financial strength rating (A++, Superior) for 39 years. There s no more highly rated North American insurance company than KofC. Last year, the Knights of Columbus was named a World s Most Ethical Company by the Ethisphere Institute. Did you know that providing financial benefits for members was the reason Ven. Fr. Michael McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus? Our founding charter from 1882 makes clear: the Knights of Columbus primary goal is to render financial aid to its members and the beneficiaries of members. Did you know the Knights of Columbus offers full, top-quality life insurance, disability income insurance, long-term care insurance, and retirement annuities? We have products and solutions to fit your family s needs and budget. I m available to provide a complimentary, comprehensive analysis of your situation. There are a number of products and services you may be eligible for, just for being a Knight.

11 Whether family fraternal benefits, survivor benefits, or our Personal Planning workbook, there are many ways the Knights of Columbus Insurance program can benefit you. Join the hundreds of thousands of brother Knights who use our shield as their protection. ~ David N. Luksic, Field Agent, Knights of Columbus, david.luksic@kofc.org, Membership Update Council 2323 Adds 14 New Members in Fraternal Year By Gary Palmer, Membership Director Over the Fraternal Year, our Council added 14 members: Christian B. Flores, Yuri A. Forgues, Jeremiah D. Opinion, Robert A. Boegel, Daniel Rios- Doria, Oyoua M. Hoba, Dzidzogbe K. Matrevi, Leo Edward M. Azucena, Thomas J. Woods, Komi L. Detse, David K. Appiah, Bernard Gomersall, Thomas J. McFarland, Morgan J. Ambrosia and three members who transferred from other Councils: Lucian Ilardi, Matthew B. Curley, and Joe Feliz Hernandez-Aguilar. Key proposers were John Durbin, SK and Victor Sogah, who qualify for the Silver Knight Award by bringing two new members each. During the same period, we lost some members A Knights mainstay gets trimmed. who transferred to other Councils. Also, several died: Joseph P. Kozlowski, PGK Thomas P. Reilly, Albino A. Pecoraro, Thomas H. George, James B. Badini, PGK Henry J. Mongelli, and Enrique Balaguer. We now have 374 members. A surprise for this Fraternal Year: Form 100 has been cut in half! The old, long Form 100 is no longer useable. Copies of the new form are available at Father Cuddy Hall or from me, by calling It s even easier to ask a friend to join us! Social Media Update By Tom McFarland, Social Media Coordinator Social media is going well. Montgomery Council 2323 now has 17 people following Council activities on Facebook. I plan to ask the parish bulletin directors about putting announcements in bulletins to like our Facebook page. Of our 17 Facebook followers, I know most and had a few of them ask about the Shrimp Feast. That s a sign that media advertising can work successfully. I m always looking for more material to put out there to followers. Sometimes I m hesitant on certain material as to whether it is best left within the Council or should it be public knowledge? Please tell me what you think, and what information should stay in-house or be shared with the general public. tjm812@gmail.com. Send you story ideas and event updates, pictures, future plans anything at all to Courier Editor Joe Schuler, Jr. at josephschuler@starpower.net or feel free to call This newsletter s success and the promotion of Council 2323 s good works depends on us all, in collaboration. Joe makes publication easy; please reach out.

12 Montgomery Council 2323 Calendar July July 4, Independence Day July 7, Business Meeting, 8 p.m. July 15, McNamara Chapter of Grand Knights Meeting, 8 p.m. July 21, Social meeting, 8 p.m. July 27, Building Corp. Meeting, 7:30 p.m. July 28, Officers & Directors Meeting, 7:30 p.m. August Aug. 4, Business Meeting, 8 p.m. Aug. 12, Fr. McGivney s Birthday Aug. 15, Feast of the Assumption, Holy Day Aug. 18, Social Meeting, 8 p.m. Aug. 20, Officer Installation Practice, 7 p.m. Aug. 24, Building Corp. Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25, Officer & Directors Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Upcoming *On Aug. 22, there will be a Mass and Officer Installation at 5 p.m. at St. Mary s Church, Rockville* ***The Holy Father, Pope Francis, celebrates Holy Mass of the canonization of Bl. Junípero Serra at 4:15 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception*** Degree Ceremonies: 1 st Degrees, Aug. 18, 8 p.m., Fr. Cuddy Hall; and Aug. 26, 7:30 p.m., Fr. Peter Paul Maher Council, Olney; 2 nd Degree: Aug. 25, 8 p.m., Our Lady of Fatima, Barnesville. All meetings at Fr. Cuddy Hall, Overhill Rd., Derwood, Md unless indicated. NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #6 Rockville, MD ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED